Biblical Theology
Surface of the Deep endeavors to represent theological truths from a biblical basis
Biblical Theology as Foundational
Out of a conviction that the Bible is inspired by God and sufficient to inform all matters of faith and practice, it makes good sense that theology that proceeds directly from the biblical texts is of the utmost value. Amongst all the methodologies of doing theology, Biblical Theology thus holds primacy. That is not to say that other theological methods are neglectable– each serves its purpose for helping to understand the things of God. While pursuing Biblical Theology, referencing systematic, historical, exegetical, and other methodologies can give a fuller comprehension of a particular biblical text. For example, when Jude references the archangel Michael arguing with the devil over Moses’s body (Jude 9), it would be neglectful not to reference systematics on angelology and Second Temple historical theology to fully understand what Jude’s inferences might be. Letting the biblical texts speak for themselves might be easier said than done, but it is an endeavor well worth the effort.
Defining Biblical Theology
A simple definition of biblical theology is “the study of the Bible on its own terms” [Kimble and Spellman, 18]. Wayne Grudem expands on that idea, saying it “gives special attention to the teachings of individual authors and sections of Scripture and to the place of each teaching in the historical development of Scripture” [Grudem, 4]. This methodology assumes that a text’s author intended to communicate specific theological truths that his then-ancient audience would fully understand. The contemporary Bible reader’s charge, therefore, is to pursue the original framework and meaning of any given text.
Pursuing Biblical Theology
If pursuing biblical theology values allowing particular Scriptures to inform their own meaning, the reader would do well to consciously avoid impressing any pre-understandings or doctrinal biases on the biblical texts. For example, contemporary Christian readers frequently read the Trinity into the opening narrative of Genesis when God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen 1:26 ESV). While a Trinitarian inference may be a fair retrospection, imposing such an intended meaning on the original author would be an extreme stretch. Instead, to ferret out the theological thrust the writer of Genesis meant to convey, it would behoove a good biblical reader/theologian to investigate why an ancient monotarian would record God speaking in a plural sense.
Biblical Theology leads to Canonical Theology
A thorough Biblical Theology does not end with merely deciphering a specific text. It then seeks to understand how that text’s meaning successively fits into the larger biblical canon. It also acknowledges that the original God-inspired author may not have been aware of the full theological impact his writings would have pending future revelation and action by God. Under inspiration from the Holy Spirit, the New Testament writers notoriously imposed interpretations on Old Testament texts that interpreters would draw naturally from those texts. The historical-contextual interpretation of a specific text is eventually affected by the full revelation of the Bible, allowing for a complete expression of its place in biblical theology.
The Bible represents a mega-narrative from the opening verses of Genesis to the closing of Revelation. Long and short– God wanted to, wants to, and will eventually live amongst His people unfettered. When considering discrete and diverse portions of the biblical canon, it is beneficial to understand that God initiated, moved in, and is moving history toward a remarkable climax. Thus, keeping the big-picture mega-narrative in mind, the reader should seek to answer the question, how does the message of this particular verse fit into its immediate context, its surrounding chapters, its specific book, the larger section of the Bible, and the ultimate overall storyline?
References and Suggested Reading
Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020.
Kimble, Jeremy M., and Ched Spellman. Invitation to Biblical Theology: Exploring the Shape, Storyline, and Themes of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2020.